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Croutch helps Ohio win Frisco Bowl
Boardman’s Croutch helps Ohio win
Frisco Bowl; turns attention to NFL
By Dan Hiner
When the final whistle blew, Evan Croutch and his teammates gathered for the trophy presentation. The Ohio University football team beat San Diego State 27-0 in the 2018 DXL Frisco Bowl on Dec. 20 and Croutch walked away with an award himself.
A Boardman graduate, Croutch recorded 11 tackles, 21/2 tackles for loss and 11/2 sacks. The former Spartan was named the Defensive Player of the Game.
It was a storybook ending to his college career with the Bobcats.
Croutch finished his career with 192 tackles, 201/2 tackles for loss and 81/2 sacks. His career-high 90 tackles led the Bobcats this season. He also set career highs in tackles for loss (14), sacks (51/2), pass breakups (8) and interceptions (2) in 2018.
“I think I really just stepped into that leadership role as kind of the leader of the linebacker corps,” Croutch said. “I felt like I needed to step up my game a little bit to help the other guys out and come into my role as ‘That guy.’”
The 6-foot-1, 226-pound linebacker played in 25 games during the 2015 and 2016 seasons — mostly getting time on special teams.
As a junior, Croutch finally cracked the starting lineup. He started 11 of 12 games that season, finishing with 70 tackles. But a torn shoulder hindered his performance late in the season. He had surgery Dec. 26, 2017 and went through rehab during the offseason.
By the start of his senior season, Croutch was healthy and ready to go. He was named a team captain prior to the season.
“I learned from a lot of great players ahead of me,” Croutch said. “I learned from their leadership and commitment and just kept dedicating myself to getting better every single year. Up until my senior year, where I could really showcase my talent.
“[Being named a captain] was great for me. My team and coaches felt like I was a natural leader on and off the field. They gave me that vote my senior year and it was really an honor to step into that role.”
The Bobcats finished 9-4 and were second in the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division behind Buffalo.
Ohio also finished second in the conference in rushing defense (137.1) and third in scoring defense (24.6 points per game).
“We had a goal to win the MAC and we didn’t do that, so that haunts us a little bit,” Croutch said. “But to come on and finish the year as strong as we did — with all the hiccups that we had — it felt great. And that was the most important part, winning that last game.”
While his college career has come to a close, Croutch isn’t done with football. He will participate in Ohio’s Pro Day at the end of March.
Croutch hopes to follow in the footsteps of former teammates Blair Brown (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Quentin Poling (Miami Dolphins) and make his way onto an NFL roster.
“I’ve learned from those guys and now I know what it takes to get to that level,” Croutch said. “I think being at a MAC school, there’s just as much opportunity there.”
The Boardman product trusted his family and coaches early in his college career. His support system helped Croutch develop over time.
“Everyone has to step into that [minor] role and eventually their time will come if they put in the work,” he said. “Going through those couple years and getting into a starting spot, staying confident and having that support is really important.”